Pipe-straightening machine

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to the machines for straightening pipes, particularly thin-walled ones, in the process of their motion. The machine comprises the feeding mechanisms and holders with straightening rolls, said holders located between said feeding mechanisms; said holders are cantilevered on the supports (speed reducers) moved along the pipe feed axis. The holders have roll-holding pins with bushings and washers connected correspondingly with gears. Each holder has two gearwheels meshing with said gears. In each holder the gearwheel meshing with the gear of the bushing is intended for simultaneous radial displacement of all the straightening rolls of this holder while the gearwheel meshing with the gear of the washer is intended for simultaneous angular displacement of all its straightening rolls.

United States Patent Gennady Konstantinovich Zhukov Kubanskaya ulitsa, l2 str. 1, kv. 24; Nikolai Ivanovich Krylov, Volgogradsky prospekt, 171, kv. 31; Vyachslav Ivanovich Lebedev, Smolensky bulvar, l3, kv. 51; Borsi Vasilievich Popov, proezd Kulbysheva, 23, kv. 37; Alexandr Zosimovich Slonim, Tashkensky proezd, l, kv. 166; Anatoly Leonidovich Sonin, B. Ugreshskaya ulitsa, 6, kv. 91, all of Moscow; Sergei losifovich Vasilenko, ulitsa Pestelya, 6, kv. 3; Valentin Vasilievich Kondratiev, ulitsa Korbuta, ll, kv. 2;

N ester Ivanovich Krokhin, prospekt Lenina, 89, kv. 2, all of Nikopol Dnepropetrovskoi Oblasti, all of USSR. [21] Appl. No. 33,739

[22] Filed May 1, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972 72] Inventors [54] PlPE-STRAIGHTENING MACHINE 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 72/79, 72/99 [51] Int. Cl. 821d 3/06 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Herbst A!torneyWaters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen ABSTRACT: The present disclosure relates to the machines for straightening pipes, particularly thin-walled ones, in the process of their motion. The machine comprises the feeding mechanisms and holders with straightening rolls, said holders located between said feeding mechanisms; said holders are cantilevered on the supports (speed reducers) moved along the pipe feed axis. The holders have roll-holding pins with bushings and washers connected correspondingly with gears. Each holder has two gearwheels meshing with said gears. In each holder the gearwheel meshing with the gear of the bushing is intended for simultaneous radial displacement of all the straightening rolls of this holder while the gearwheel meshing with the gear of the washer is intended for simultaneous angular displacement of all its straightening rolls.

PATENIED JMII 1 I972 SHEET 1 UF 4 SHEET 2 BF 4 PIPE-STRAIGHTENING MACHINE The present invention relates to machines for straightening pipes, particularly thin-walled ones, in the process of their motion.

Known in the art is a machine for straightening thin-walled pipes in motion, comprising straightening rolls mounted in at least three separate holders, installed one after another along the pipe feed axis and coupled to individual drives which rotate the adjacent holders in opposite directions with relation to the pipe feed axis.

In each separate holder of this machine the straightening rolls are rigidly interconnected by a ring installed inside the holder with a provision for adjusting the position of said ring in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the holders.

However, the known machine fails to ensure rapid and accurate setting of the working rolls to the required position for straightening pipes within a wide range of diameters.

An object of the present invention resides in eliminating the aforesaid disadvantages.

The main object of the invention is to provide a pipestraightening machine, particularly for thin-walled pipes, with such a straightening unit which would increase the output, improve the quality of pipe straightening and widen the range of diameters of the handled pipes with a minimum time required for resetting the machine for a different diameter of pipes.

This object is accomplished by providing a machine for straightening pipes in motion, which is provided in the zone between the pipe-feeding mechanisms with holders comprising straightening rolls installed on pins with bushings and washers, said holders being mounted on supports and provided with individual drives which are intended to rotate the adjacent holders in opposite directions with relation to the pipe feed axis wherein, according to the invention, each holder has a gearwheel meshing with the gears of the bushings and a gearwheel meshing with the gears of the washers, the holder supports being made with a provision for moving along the pipe feed axis.

Such a design of the machine ensures a higher output and a better quality of straightening of thin-walled pipes with a polished surface.

It is practicable that each support, except one extreme support, be connected with a gear rack interacting with the gear of the support drive.

This makes it possible to adjust the distance between the holders which is required to achieve a uniform quality of straightening of all the pipes within the preset range of diameters.

it is expedient to make supports in the form of individual speed reducers of the rotation drive of each holder and to secure faceplates on the output shafts of the speed reducers, each faceplate being provided with a screw-and-nut pair for moving the holder with relation to the rotation center of the faceplate, perpendicularly to the pipe feed axis, and a retainer for locking the holder in the required position.

This improves the conditions for straightening the pipes by bending.

It is practicable that the holders of the machine be cantilevered on the supports.

This facilitates replacement of the holders and checking the position of rolls in them.

To make the invention more apparent, now the machine will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the machine according to the invention, partly cut out;

FIG. 2 shows the first holder from the pipe feed side, partly cut out;

FIG. 3 shows the second holder from the pipe feed side, partly cutout;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the first holder from the pipe feed side, partly cut out.

The pipe-straightening machine, mainly for straightening thin-walled pipes with a polished surface in the process of their motion, comprises a bedplate 1 (FIG. 1) carrying supports 2 with holders 3, and mechanisms 4 for feeding a pipe 5.

The holders 3 are provided with individual speed reducers which serve as supports 2 driven by a common drive 6. The adjacent holders rotate in opposite directions with relation to the pipe feed axis. The direction of the pipe feed is shown by an arrow. The supports 2 are capable of moving along this axis.

Each support 2, except one extreme support (in this example, the first one from the pipe feed side) is moved with the aid of a gear rack 7 meshing with the gear 8 of the drive 9.

The holders 3 with the faceplates 10 are cantilevered on the output shafts 11 of their speed reducers which are provided for their rotation.

Each faceplate 10 (FIG. 2) has a screw-and-nut pair 12 for moving the holder 3 with relation to the center of rotation of the faceplate 10 in the direction perpendicular to the pipe feed axis, and a retainer 13 for locking the holder 3 in the required position.

All the three holders 3 are identical from the point of view of their design. Depending on the position of the holders 3 relative to the speed reducers (supports 2) in the direction of the pipe feed, the faceplates 10 are located before or after the holder but always between the holder and the speed reducer. The straightening (working) rolls 14 in each holder 3 are secured on the forks of the pins 15 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which carry bushings 16 with gears 17 which come in mesh with the gearwheel 18 for the simultaneous radial displacement of all the straightening rolls 14 of the holder.

Besides, slipped on each pin 15 is a washer l9 rigidly connected with a gear 20 which meshes with a gearwheel 21, the latter being intended to ensure simultaneous angular displacement of all the straightening rolls 14 in one holder 3. The position of the straightening rolls 14 in the holder can be checked with the aid of indicators 22.

The machine functions as follows.

The rolls 14 are set at a required angle to the axis of the pipe 5 so that they constitute a pass whose dimensions correspond to the diameter of the pipe being straightened.

Then the motors of the mechanism 4 for feeding the pipe 5 and the drive 6 which rotates the holders 3 are switched on. The pipe to be straightened is fed in the direction shown by an arrow. The pipe moves consecutively through the passes constituted by the straightening rolls 14 of the holders 3. Apart from the axial curvature, the pipes have shallow dents on the surface. The longitudinal curvature of the pipes is straightened by bending which is ensured by displacing the holder 3 with relation to the center of rotation of the faceplate 10 in the direction perpendicular to the pipe feed axis.

Such a displacement is accomplished by means of the screw-and-nut pair 12. The magnitude of said displacement is selected to suit the dimensions and mechanical properties of the material of the pipes being straightened, and in accordance with the dimensions of the straightening machine.

Shallow dents on the surface of the pipes are straightened by bending the pipe wall in its cross section, which is accomplished by moving the straightening rolls radially with the aid of the gear wheel 18. In this case the size of the pass of the holder 3 must be smaller than the nominal diameter of the pipe being straightened. Turning the gearwheel 21 ensures simultaneous adjustment of the setting angle of all the straightening rolls [4 of the holder 3 with relation to the axis of the pipe being straightened.

For straightening pipes of a different diameter it is necessary to adjust not only the radial and angular positions of the straightening rolls [4 of each holder with relation to the pipe feed axis, but also their distance along the axis. The required distance between the holders 3 is achieved by rotating the gear 8 which displaces the supports 2. This provides better quality of straightening within the required range of pipe diameters.

Straightening of thin-walled pipes with a polished surface calls for a particularly precise checking of the position of the straightening rolls l4 and of their surface finish. This can be easily accomplished on the claimed machine owing to the cantilever mounting of the removable holders on the supports 2, provided a sufficient supply of spare holders is available.

The machine may have either all movable supports 2, or all but one (the first or last one in the direction of the pipe feed).

The above-disclosed machine may be used for straightening pipes with different thicknesses of their walls, and round bars. It may be used either as an isolated unit, or as a part of a production line for straightening the continuously moving pipes.

The straightening machine has been tested on steel polished pipes and on pipes of nonferrous metals with a diameter-towall thickness ratio from 250 to 300.

The tests have yielded good results in straightening both the curvature and the transverse shape of the pipes. The straightening accuracy of these pipes has reached 0.3 to 0.5 mm. per meter of length.

We claim:

1. A machine for straightening pipes in the process of their motion comprising: a bedplate; supports installed on said bedplate with a provision for movement (except one extreme support) along the pipe feed axis; holder with straightening rolls secured on said supports; pins holding said straightening rolls in said holders; bushings slipped on said pins; gears connected to said bushings; a gearwheel in each of said holders, meshing with said gears of the bushings for radial displacement of said straightening rolls; washers slipped on said pins; gears connected rigidly with said washers; a gearwheel in each of said holders, meshing with said gears of the washers and intended for angular displacement of said straightening rolls; drives intended to rotate said adjacent holders in opposite directions with relation to the pipe feed axis and feeding mechanisms installed on said bedplate before and after said holders.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein each of said supports, except an extreme support, has a gear rack meshing with the gear of the drive for moving said support.

3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein said supports are constituted by individual speed reducers of the rotation drive of each holder, the output shafts of each reducer carrying faceplates provided, each, with a screw-and-nut pair for moving said holder with relation to the rotation center of said faceplate in the direction perpendicular to the pipe feed axis and a retainer for locking said holder in the required position.

4. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said holders are cantilevered on said supports. 

1. A machine for straightening pipes in the process of their motion comprising: a bedplate; supports installed on said bedplate with a provision for movement (except one extreme support) along the pipe feed axis; holder with straightening rolls secured on said supports; pins holding said straightening rolls in said holders; bushings slipped on said pins; gears connected to said bushings; a gearwheel in each of said holders, meshing with said gears of the bushings for radial displacement of said straightening rolls; washers slipped on said pins; gears connected rigidly with said washers; a gearwheel in each of said holders, meshing with said gears of the washers and intended for angular displacement of said straightening rolls; drives intended to rotate said adjacent holders in opposite directions with relation to the pipe feed axis and feeding mechanisms installed on said bedplate before and aftEr said holders.
 2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein each of said supports, except an extreme support, has a gear rack meshing with the gear of the drive for moving said support.
 3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein said supports are constituted by individual speed reducers of the rotation drive of each holder, the output shafts of each reducer carrying faceplates provided, each, with a screw-and-nut pair for moving said holder with relation to the rotation center of said faceplate in the direction perpendicular to the pipe feed axis and a retainer for locking said holder in the required position.
 4. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said holders are cantilevered on said supports. 